'Marchioness' legal victory

Five relatives of party-goers killed in the Marchioness Thames riverboat tragedy won a legal victory which could lead to the first full public hearing on the collision with the Bowbelle in August 1989 when 51 died.

They won the right to challenge a refusal by Dr Paul Knapman, coroner at the inquest into the deaths, to stand down when accused of bias.

Mr Justice Popplewell, in the High Court, ruled that the relatives had an 'arguable' case. He said there was apparent bias in Dr Knapman's reported reference to Margaret Lockwood-Croft, whose son Shaun, 26, died, as 'unhinged'.